Trails for Wales

Trails for Wales

There’s nothing like heading off-road with your family, friends or even alone and exploring the unspoilt traffic-free countryside. Unfortunately, where we can ride off-road is restricted by a classification of paths and tracks based on their historic use, not their suitability. In Wales that means we can cycle on just 21% of the Rights of Way network. Cycling UK wants this to change.

Cyclists in Scotland already enjoy greater rights of responsible access, leading to a growth in off-road and leisure cycling which Transform Scotland estimate contributes between £236 and £358 million to the Scottish economy each year.

It’s time Wales followed Scotland’s lead with a modern approach to outdoor access.

Recognising this need to improve access to the outdoors for responsible recreation, the Welsh Government began a consultation in 2015. In response, Cycling UK together with Open MTB, the Welsh and English National Trail Organisation, launched our joint campaign: Trails for Wales.

Over 4,000 people wrote into the Welsh Government in support. The Government listened, and ran a new consultation from June to October. This consultation included proposals to allow people to cycle on footpaths. Our joint Trails for Wales campaign returned, and the off-road and mountain-biking community responded to our call..

The consultation closed on 30 September and we had a total of 8,173 people writing in support of our call for Trails for Wales!

Cycling UK will follow up with the Welsh Government on the back of this high level of response. To keep up to date on future developmements, sign up for our weekly newsletter, Cycle Clips.